by Emily Moss
Newton middle and high school students and parents are invited to the annual Just Think: Teens Making Smart Choices exposition this Thursday, run by the Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO).
The event, which will be free of charge and will take place primarily on Main Street, aims to educate guests on healthy behaviors and constructive problem-solving strategies for teens, according to PTSO co-president Sally Brickell.
Representatives from 34 local and national organizations—among them the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, In Control Driving, and the Newton Police Department—will present at the exposition, and students will have the opportunity to hear from these representatives first during lunch and later in the evening from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., according to Brickell and the PTSO website.
“I appreciate the fact that the North PTSO is providing this valuable experience for our families,” principal Jennifer Price noted in the press release. “I implore all families to take time to come to this event to help us all ‘just think’ about making smart choices.”
Brickell added that in addition to learning about safe behaviors, Newton teens may use their experiences at Just Think to help the community. She noted that senior Eli Schwamm began volunteering at Samaritans, a suicide prevention hotline, after learning about the organization at Just Think two years ago.
At the exposition, upperclassmen from Leadership in a Diverse Society will hold discussions about high school with freshmen and sophomores, said Brickell.
Other student organizations, such as the Ligerbots robotics team and certain musical groups, will also give presentations and performances to serve as recreational components of the event, and a co-owner of a Newton athletics training club will provide fitness demonstrations. Guests will also receive raffle prizes, free pizza and refreshments, and henna tattoos.